Escapee captured in Claiborne Parish
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
After nearly two years on the run, an Arkansas fugitive
is now behind bars in Claiborne Parish.
Yul Antwan McGee, 33, was arrested without incident
Thursday morning, April 10, after the Haynesville Police Department received a
tip that he was in the area.
Enlisting the assistance of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and the DWCC entry team, authorities surrounded the
residence of McGee’s girlfriend, Shanterri Woods, on Friendship Drive, where
McGee was reported to be. According to reports, the entry team entered the home
and Haynesville’s Sgt. John Barnett arrested McGee and “a female.”
McGee’s girlfriend and his aunt, Velardi McGee, both of
Haynesville, were arrested and charged with accessory after the fact, aiding a
felon. Bond for both women were set at $5,000 each, and according to records,
McGee has bonded out. The two were booked at the women’s facility at the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Additional charges on Woods are pending.
Yul McGee was booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on escape charges with no bond. Once he has appeared in court and
signs a waiver of extradition, McGee will then be picked up by the Hempstead
County Sheriff’s Office and returned to Arkansas to finish out his original
sentence, plus whatever sentence is imposed for the escape charges.
For the escape charge, according to the Arkansas warrant,
McGee could face up to six more years in prison and/or a fine no more than
$10,000.
He had been on the run since 2006, after scaling a
razor-wire fence at the back of the detention center where he worked in the
kitchen on a work-release program in Arkansas, according to Lt. Frank McJunkins
of the Criminal Investigations Division at the Hempstead County Sheriff’s
Department. He was serving a 40-year sentence in the Arkansas Department of
Corrections for simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Arkansas investigators
believe that McGee could have been in Haynesville since his escape, but other
reports came in that he might have gone to Bossier or Dallas for a period of
time.
“I’ve got a good idea that he might have been in
Haynesville this whole time,” McJunkins said. “We believe he was within a
100-mile radius of the area.”
According to McGee’s records, he served time at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for prior charges in 1999. Those charges included
possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Schedule II (cocaine) with
intent to distribute, and some misdemeanor charges, including theft. McGee was
released in 2002 and later found himself in jail again in Columbia County, Ark.
As of press time, repeated attempts to contact Haynesville
Police Chief Anthony Smith and Assistant Chief Jason Branch by phone went
unanswered.
CNET, CPSO makes drug bust
The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team (CNET) made a
bust that resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old man.
CNET, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and the
Haynesville Police Department conducted a buy/bust operation that resulted in
the arrest of Thomas D. Bradley, of Emerson, Ark. Haynesville police officers
developed information that Bradley was crossing the state line into northern
Claiborne Parish and selling quantities of marijuana.
Haynesville officers contacted CNET personnel and on
Tuesday, April 8, officers arranged to buy a quantity of marijuana from
Bradley. When Bradley arrived at Ware’s Liquor on U.S. Hwy. 79, in northern
Claiborne Parish, Bradley was detained by investigating officers.
A short time later, Bradley gave consent to search his
vehicle. This search resulted in the seizure of approximately one ounce of
marijuana. Bradley was arrested and charged with possession with intent to
distribute Schedule I CDS (marijuana), with bond to be set.
Sheriff Ken Bailey stated that because north Claiborne
Parish is the state line, it creates many problems. There is a constant flow of
people traveling into and out of Arkansas for the purpose of buying or selling
illegal drugs. This constant movement makes it difficult for our officers to
identify and arrest out-of-state violators. Our neighbors to the north face the
same problem.
In other news, Forest Service Officer Corey Gordon called
for assistance just south of the Corney Lake Bridge on Sunday, April 13.
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Brazzel arrived and the driver was
identified as Revel W. Huitt, of Warren, Ark.
Upon searching the vehicle, a small plastic baggy
containing a white crystal-like substance found under the front seat. This
substance was field-tested and came back positive for methamphetamine. As the
search continued, a black box containing crystal-like substances was found in
the dash by the steering wheel. A check of the suitcase in the backseat
revealed a round flask containing white rock-like substance, two pipes, with
drug paraphernalia in it, and a black case holding seven syringes. Huitt was
then advised that he was under arrest for possession of Schedule II and
possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for booking. Bond is to be set.
In an unrelated case, Keauati Monique Crittendon, of
Haynesville, was arrested after a traffic stop led to her arrest. Claiborne
Parish Deputy J.T. Williams observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Hwy. 79
north in Haynesville with a tail light out. Williams initiated the stop and
made contact with Crittendon.
A search of Crittendon revealed several Lortab in her
pocket as well as 15 unidentified pills. A search of the vehicle produced a
pill bottle with an unidentified liquid in it. Crittendon was then arrested and
read her rights in Miranda form.
She was transported to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office for booking on charges of possession of Schedule III with intent to
distribute, expired MVI, and tail lamp out. Bond is to be set.
CPSO asks for help
Scrap iron theft on the rise
The Guardian-Journal
According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey and the
investigators for the sheriff’s office, there have been a rash of thefts
reported involving the theft of scrap iron.
For
years, people have let scrap iron sit on their property undisturbed. Some have
let it pile up simply through neglect, or just not having any place to put it.
Others have collected scrap iron as a means of future cash or to use it for a
future project.
Whatever the circumstances, the scrap iron belongs to the
individual to do with it as he/she pleases. It is private property.
Recently, scrap iron prices have escalated to a point
that appears to scratch the itch of thieves. Since January 1, the sheriff’s
department has seen a marked increase of thefts that involve scrap iron. These
thefts not only have taken place in Claiborne Parish, but in surrounding
parishes and counties. These thefts not only include the theft of iron, but of
copper wiring, copper tubing, steel and aluminum from air conditioning units,
automobiles, barbecue pits, vehicle rims, metal gates, etc. The sources for the
metals goes on and on.
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office has investigated
burglaries where not only are items stolen from the house, shop, barn, etc.,
but the thieves are cutting and stealing the wiring leading to the structures
and even stripping the wiring from inside the structures.
Property owners are faced not only with the fact of
having their belongings – both inside and outside the structures – stolen but
of having very costly damage being done to the structure itself.
Recently, a farm tractor was stolen and recovered at a
local scrap yard. This item was a very functional piece of equipment when
stolen. Central air conditioning units have been disconnected from residences
and churches, stripped down and sold for scrap. The persons responsible for
these burglaries, thefts, criminal property damage, trespasses and fraudulent
sales of items will be, when caught, prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office requests the
assistance of the public to not only stop the crimes mentioned above, but any
crime. Please contact the sheriff’s office at 318-927-2001 or the Criminal
Investigation Office at 318-927-9800 if you have any information involving
criminal activity. We don’t need your name, just your information.
S.W.A.T.
(Special Weapons and Tactics)
Local law enforcement attend training
Defensive Tactics
Lt. Jimmy Brown, of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
“spars” with a parnter, practicing a defensive maneuver that will keep an
attacker from disarming an officer. Below, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills
partners with Officer Roger Smith, practicing that same maneuver.
Sgt. Barry Teague, of the West Monroe Police Department, was the
instructor. He taught the group, which included officers from all over the
state and beyond, how to defend themselves against an attacker. He showed them
maneuvers that would free them of an attacker if they found themselves in
situations where they were in “grounded positions.”
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Several local law enforcement agencies are in Bossier
this week training to deal with life’s most dangerous situations.
At the North Louisiana Criminal Justice Academy (NLCJA) in Bossier Parish, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills and two officers are receiving SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) training. Five Claiborne Parish
sheriff’s deputies as well as one Haynesville police officer attended the
training. Those attending include Mills, Officers Ken Wood and Roger Smith from
the Homer Police Department; Lt. Jimmy Brown, Lt. Randy Pugh, Deputies Roger
Ellerbe, Randy Smith and James Spillers from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Department.
Mills said he and his officers are learning a lot about
tactics, special weapons training, and defensive combat. They are learning how
to deal with different scenarios where law enforcement has had to beef up its
training to deal with the dangers posed in society today.
On Monday, these officers learned how to enter a school
if in the situation of a school shooting or a hostage situation. They learned
how to enter the school in a manner that would not only save their own lives,
but the lives of their partners as well. Luckily, Mills said, his department
has never seen these types of scenarios.
“What we can do is take this back to our departments and
teach them,” Mills said. “That way, we’re all on the same page. It’s all about
repetition. Thankfully, we’ve never encountered anything that we’ve gone
through over here (at the academy).
Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said he sent his
officers to the course because this is training they need to know.
“When we have an active shooter situation in this parish,
we can’t wait on a SWAT team from somewhere else,” Bailey said. “We have to go
in right then. I want them to be trained to where when we get that call, they
can go in.”
The Sheriff’s Office has had to use a SWAT team on
occasion, and each time, they have used one from one of various surrounding law
enforcement agencies including the DWCC team, Caddo and Lincoln parishes, and
even the Louisiana State Police SWAT team. Luckily, a SWAT team has never been
needed for a school incident involving law enforcement. Hopefully, they will
never have to, he said.
By training his officers in special weapons and tactics,
a team would be available to go to neighboring parishes to help them if need
be. It’s all about working together, he said.
“If a neighboring parish needs us, we’ll be able to
respond to them too. This is all about working together,” Bailey said.
The week-long course includes basic SWAT training,
self-defense, defensive hand-to-hand combat, firearms training, gas deployment
and hostage negotiations among many others.
Lt. Bruce Teutsch, assistant academy director and former
resident of Claiborne Parish, said this academy teaches law enforcement
agencies from around the world.
“We’ve had some from as far as Canada,” he said. “We have
trained people from all over the country.”
With classrooms patterned after the FBI National Academy, according to the academy’s brochure, the NLCJA offers top training in
traditional law enforcement and homeland security. It offers training in
fundamental training (basic), patrol, corrections, investigations, supervisor
development and special tactics.
DART request for priority shelter
approved
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
The Claiborne Parish Police Jury recently approved
emergency priority for certain situations where family safety, especially a
child’s safety, is involved.
Claiborne Parish Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART)
Advocate Mary Ellen Gamble recently asked for and was granted this special
consideration by the Police Jury. Noting that affordable, income-based housing
is becoming ever scarcer in Claiborne Parish, Gamble said, “Our concern for
the safety of children and their mothers who must leave their homes because of
domestic abuse prompted us to make this request of the Jury. We are grateful
they saw the importance of protecting the unprotected.”
This means that after careful screening by DART
personnel, a woman and her children could possibly be given priority when
Section 8 housing becomes available. Gamble stated, “This is in no way a
blanket request for anyone needing DART services. It is a way to help a victim
who is in danger and for valid reasons cannot be housed in the DART shelter in
Lincoln Parish, the nearest parish with suitable housing.”
Gamble, who works closely with the Claiborne Parish
Sheriff’s office and their Victim’s Advocate to screen persons who may qualify,
said, “Final approval for all Section 8 housing continues to be in line with
established guidelines; however, our concern is for the safety of a woman and
her children so that they do not have to return to a violent home. Critical
situations arise when we need to shelter them immediately in safe, affordable
housing. It helps the family to start over in a setting free of violence and
discord. Our office’s request follows the lead of other parishes in the area
that already have priority consideration in place.”
Sheriff Ken Bailey, a member of the DART team, commented,
“Our office is committed to the safety of abused women and children. We fully
support this initiative to provide priority shelter for those in immediate
danger because of a violent, abusive, life-threatening situation.”
— 0 —
For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. — Lily Tomlin
Looking into assisted living
The Guardian-Journal
Citizens of Claiborne Parish have said it time and again
– Claiborne Parish needs an assisted living facility for the elderly.
It’s been a topic of discussion several times in Chamber
of Commerce meetings and with citizens who have aging parents.
Danny Prince, a native of Claiborne Parish, spoke to the
Homer Lions Club last Thursday about the viability of such an endeavor. He
talked about the pros and cons of such a facility and how it will fit within
the demographics of the parish.
The greatest challenge in rural parishes, such as
Claiborne, is the base of potential clients because of the costs associated
with living in an assisted living facility. On average, Prince, owner of
Paramount Healthcare in Ruston, said it costs approximately $2,500 to $3,000
per month for one person, and it’s not covered under Medicare or Medicaid. That
means an assisted living facility is fully funded by private pay. The good news
is that many assisted living facilities take private insurance.
John Wesley Cooper, chamber member, said the organization
is pushing to bring one to the parish. The problem, he said, is people who fall
under the lower income bracket.
“We’re trying to get something going here,” Cooper said.
“I think this could be a good thing. The only problem I have is we need
something for the lower income people. But, we’ll have to cross that bridge
when we get to it.”
In talking with citizens in the communities throughout
the parish, Prince said he found the population is such that an assisted living
facility could be a good investment, but he questions whether the community
would support such a place.
Another reason he said people might not take to the idea
is that people want to stay in their own home. He said this is very prevalent
throughout a rural parish as a whole. Some are able to stay home because family
members pitch in and help out so that the person can stay in their own home.
If it’s feasible, he said, a 25-30 unit facility could be
built in the parish, but what needs to be guarded against is the revenue/cost
ratio of running such a facility.
Another factor is attracting the people who live here and
people who might choose to move here. Lake Claiborne seemed to be a top
location choice, but other people he’d spoken with said that it might be better
to put the facility somewhere in the middle of the parish. Families from
Haynesville and surrounding areas in the northern end of the parish would have
better access to it, and it wouldn’t be as far to drive.
“One of the things that I found in living all over the
country, like Florida and Texas, is that people like water,” Prince said. “In
Claiborne Parish, a lot of the growth that we’ve experienced is relative to the
lake.”
Cooper said he is not against the idea of such a facility
being built at the lake, but whatever transpires has to be for the entire
parish.
“I’m for it being on the lake,” he said. “This is for the
parish. Homer can’t operate as a single unit, and Haynesville can’t operate as
a single unit. We have to work together as a parish.”
The most important fact that people need to know, Prince
said, is that assisted living is not nursing care. There is a huge difference
between assisting living and a skilled nursing care center.
“Assisted living is distinguished by the fact that it is
not subsidized by Medicare or Medicaid,” Prince said. “Assisted living is
strictly private pay. It offers people the security, three meals a day and
someone is there to assist with housekeeping needs or other things.”
This is not nursing intervention, he said.
National crime victim’s week brings
awareness
“Justice for Victims, Justice for All”
This sign and accompanying wreath on the
lawn of the Claiborne Parish Courthouse proclaim the theme for National Crime
Victims’ Rights Week from April 14-19, 2008.
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
This week marks the 28th annual observance of National
Crime Victims' Rights Week. In accord with the theme—Justice for Victims,
Justice for All—District Court Judge Jennifer Ward Clason approved placing a
wreath and sign on the Claiborne Parish Courthouse lawn.
The latest FBI-tracked crime statistics for Claiborne
Parish are for year 2000 and show 484 arrests. Of those, over 52 percent appear
to be alcohol- or drug-related, e.g., possession, DUI, etc.
Another 13 percent are violent crimes such as murder,
robbery, assaults, etc. Almost 16 percent are theft-related other than robbery.
The remaining 19 percent range from vandalism to weapons violations and other
charges.
According to a press release from the Louisiana Division
of Probation and Parole, “For over two decades the Crime Victims Fund has
disbursed over $5.5 billion for victim assistance programs.... The Victims of
Crime Act passed in 1984 established the Fund; however, it is not derived from
taxpayers’ dollars but from Federal criminal fines, forfeited appearance bonds,
and special assessments on Federal convictions.”
Attorney General Michael Mulkasey said, “Crime Victims’
Rights Week reminds everyone that we must ensure protections, services, and
rights for crime victims.” Office for Victims of Crime Director John Gillis added, “It's important to remember that crime victims are forever changed. It’s
remarkable that countless victims have found hope and new lives despite the
terrible events that changed their worlds. Because crime can strike anyone,
victims’ rights are everyone’s rights.”
Nine people from across the nation—including Louisiana’s Donna Duplantier (see related story, page 3)—were honored with awards for their
service to victims of crime.
Additional information about recipients of the 2008 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week awards is available at www.ojp.gov.
A Message from the Sheriff...
‘Justice for Victims, Justice for All’
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office wishes to recognize
the 2008 National Crime Victim’s Rights Week. This week, April 13-19, has been
set aside to recognize all victims and the impact crime has on them.
Statistics of crime in our nation are truly alarming.
Violence permeates every area of our lives. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime sponsors recognition of
this week as a time to reflect on the victims of these crimes and the arduous
journey they travel to reestablish their lives after such violations. Because
crime can strike anyone at any time, victims’ rights are everyone’s
responsibility.
In the United States of America’s pledge of allegiance to
our flag, we state, “…and justice for all.” In order to achieve justice for
all, we cannot simply concentrate on the arrest and sentencing portion of
crime. While this is a very important aspect of our society, we must remember
that for every crime committed, there is a victim who has been traumatized.
Because crime has a rippling effect on our society, the
individual victim will not be the only person who suffers. Victims’ families
and friends are also affected by the trauma imposed on the victim. Families are
torn apart, hearts are broken that cannot be mended, and families are left in
the aftermath trying to maintain some semblance of order in their lives. It is
the goal of the sheriff’s office to serve and protect each and every citizen in
Claiborne Parish. In our efforts to do that, we want to remember the innocent
people who are striving to rebuild their lives.
As citizens in one of the greatest nations on earth, and
as members of the human race, it is our duty and obligation to help people who
have been victimized by crime. We have no control over criminals and the
choices they make, but we can assist the innocent people these criminals prey
on.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a
crime, please contact Deputy Donna McCarty, claims investigator, at the
sheriff’s office, criminal investigative division, at 318-927-9800. We believe
one person can make a difference; two people can make profound progress;
standing together, we can change things.
Athens Garden Club to accent courthouse
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The Athens Garden Club is going out of its way to
continue the tradition of beautification of Claiborne Parish.
On its list of projects, the garden club wants to accent
the Claiborne Parish Courthouse by installing exterior lighting to highlight
the historical building, with permission from the police jury. At the regular
meeting of the police jury, the garden club was granted that permission.
According to a letter to the police jury, “the proposed
exterior lights would highlight the columns and coordinate with the exterior
lighting already in place.”
The preliminary plans, drawn up by architect Lestar
Martin, would place two lights at each column on each side of the courthouse,
with a total of a minimum of eight lights. The cost of the project is
approximately $3,700, but installation and the extent of electrical work needed
has not yet been included.
Because the courthouse is on the National Register of
Historic Places, certain criteria had to be met, and with these exterior
lights, the project is expected to be done accordingly.
The garden club has put aside enough funds from their
annual auction for this particular project. In the letter, Marjorie Thomas,
club president, said they are putting together a cookbook to help raise
additional funds. The cookbook will be out in September.
“This is a service to the parish, and it’s really going
to look good,” said Jerry Adkins, District 9 police juror. “They’re interested
in the exact same things that we’re interested in. They want to preserve the
integrity of the building and enhance the beauty. This is a way to do it
without marring any of the columns.”
Adkins commended the garden club for their project and
efforts.
Seniors learn about heart disease
prevention
The Guardian-Journal
Area senior citizens joined together to learn about the
importance of “exercising the mind and body to help prevent cardiovascular
diseases.”
An educational seminar was held Thursday, April 10, at
the Claiborne Parish Boys and Girls Club Homer Unit. Sponsored by the Community Coordinating Council and Rep. Rick Gallot, the Project Gold Seminar
“Move It or Lose It,” shed some light on medical conditions many seniors suffer
from as they age.
Dr. Allan Brazzel and Tanya McGowan, of the North Louisiana Medical Center, spoke to the seniors about heart disease and how to prevent
and treat it.
Brazzel talked about several heart conditions and how
people develop them. The anatomy of the heart, high blood pressure and high
blood pressure plays a large role in developing heart disease, if the heart is
not taken care of. He also told them of the different surgeries and treatments
available to treat heart conditions.
“Blood pressure plays a large part in heart disease,” he
said. “The heart has to work harder to pump blood through the heart into the
body. Hypertension and high blood pressure are called the silent killers.”
He also said that black females carry a higher risk for
heart disease.
Congestive heart failure is a major condition in which
fluid builds up around the heart, ultimately going to the lungs, he said.
“The body is returning blood faster than the heart can
pump it out,” Brazzel explained.
But there is hope, he said. Congestive heart failure is
treatable.
“You can live long and have congestive heart failure,” he
continued, “but it’s an aggravating disease. If you take your medicine and go
to the doctor and treat it, you can live with it for a long time.”
Because he is the director of the sleep lab at the
hospital, he also spoke to the seniors about different sleep disorders, saying
that sleep is very important, because it gives the body’s internal organs a
chance to rest.
When the body enters what is known as rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep, the heart and blood flow slows as well as breathing. This is usually
where the sleep disorders present its symptoms, such as sleep apnea, snoring or
sleepwalking.
In keeping with the topic of heart disease, McGowan,
director of physical, occupational and speech therapy, demonstrated some simple
exercises seniors could do to strengthen their hearts.
“There are things you can do to prevent heart disease,”
she said. “Prevention is the key, and the good thing about exercise is that
it’s free.”
She suggested 20 minutes of exercising every other day to
help strengthen the heart, saying that walking is the best form of exercise.
There are three areas of exercise she works on with
patients, including flexibility, strengthening and cardiovascular endurance.
The cardiovascular endurance is what she focused on with them.
Seniors were then motivated to exercise as McGowan
demonstrated different simple exercises they could do in the comfort of their
own home.
Special thanks from the Community Coordinating Council
goes to North Louisiana Medical Center for allowing Dr. Brazzel and McGowan to
provide information on healthy lifestyles with the emphasis on cardiovascular
diseases. Also, appreciation goes to the dedication and commitment of area
coordinators and the cooperation and support of all the Project Gold
participants.
For more information on the Community Coordinating
Council or upcoming activities, please contact Valena Lane at 318-247-6676; Joe
Etta Williams at 318-927-9444 or Xaver Malone at 318-247-8999.
Accident sends one to hospital
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
This was the scene late Monday afternoon, April 14, when a
logging truck dumped its load coming around a curve just past Darling Road on Lake Claiborne Dam Road in Lisbon. The driver of the vehicle sustained lacerations and head injuries from the accident. Pafford Ambulance responded to the scene providing emergency medical care before he was airlifted by Life Air
to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Claiborne Parish Fire District #6, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana State Police responded to the call. The state police provided barricades blocking off portions of Lake Claiborne Dam Road. There is no word on the driver’s
condition at this time.
This Film by Michael Haynes Productions was created in conjunction with 
